Hibiscus plant named ‘Pink Punch Wind’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscus plant named ‘Pink Punch Wind’, characterized by its semi-upright and uniformly mounded plant habit appropriate for container production; freely branching habit, dense and bushy appearance; glossy dark green-colored leaves; uniform, freely and early flowering habit; single pink-colored flowers with darker pink-colored throats; good postproduction and garden performance; and resistance to Bacterial Leaf Spot.

Botanical designation: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘PINK PUNCH WIND’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Hibiscus Plant Named ‘Pink Flamingo Wind’

Inventor/Applicant: Cornelis P. Vandenberg

Ser. No. 17/863,376

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Hibiscus plant, botanically known as Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Pink Punch Wind’.

The new Hibiscus plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Alva, Fla. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-branching Hibiscus plants with uniform plant habit appropriate for container production, early and freely flowering habit, desirable flower color, good garden performance and resistance to Bacterial Leaf Spot.

The new Hibiscus plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Alva, Fla. in 2014 of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Cayman Wind’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,760, as the female, or seed, parent with Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Luau Pink Kai’, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Hibiscus plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Alva, Fla. on Aug. 19, 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hibiscus plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Alva, Fla. since November, 2015 has shown that the unique features of this new Hibiscus plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Pink Punch Wind’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Pink Punch Wind’ as a new and distinct Hibiscus plant:

-   -   1. Semi-upright and uniformly mounded plant habit appropriate         for container production.     -   2. Freely branching habit, dense and bushy appearance.     -   3. Glossy dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Uniform, freely and early flowering habit.     -   5. Single pink-colored flowers with darker pink-colored throats.     -   6. Good postproduction and garden performance.     -   7. Resistant to Bacterial Leaf Spot.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘Cayman Wind’. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ primarily from plants of ‘Cayman Wind’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more spreading than plants of         ‘Cayman Wind’.     -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more resistant to Bacterial         Leaf Spot than plants of ‘Cayman Wind’.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the male parent, ‘Luau Pink Kai’. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ primarily from plants of ‘Luau Pink Kai’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more uniform and spreading in         plant habit than plants of ‘Luau Pink Kai’.     -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more freely branching than         plants of ‘Luau Pink Kai’.     -   3. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more freely flowering than         plants of ‘Luau Pink Kai’.     -   4. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more resistant to Bacterial         Leaf Spot than plants of ‘Luau Pink Kai’.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Pink Flamingo Wind’. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ primarily from plants of ‘Pink Flamingo Wind’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more freely flowering than         plants of ‘Pink Flamingo Wind’.     -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus have smaller flowers than plants         of ‘Pink Flamingo Wind’.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Hibiscus are darker pink in         color than flowers of plants of ‘Pink Flamingo Wind’.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Pink Versicolor’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons plants of the new Hibiscus differ from plants of ‘Pink Versicolor’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more spreading in plant habit         than plants of ‘Pink Versicolor’.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Hibiscus are lighter pink in         color than flowers of plants of ‘Pink Versicolor’.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Hibiscus are smaller than         flowers of plants of ‘Pink Versicolor’.     -   4. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more resistant to Bacterial         Leaf Spot than plants of ‘Pink Versicolor’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Hibiscus plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Hibiscus plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 ) is a side perspective view of typical flowering plants of ‘Pink Punch Wind’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 ) is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Pink Punch Wind’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer in 15-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Alva, Fla. and in 25-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Fort Worth, Tex. under cultural practices which closely approximate commercial Hibiscus production. During the production of the plants in Texas, day temperatures ranged from 35° C. to 40° C., night temperatures ranged from 24° C. to 35° C. and light levels ranged from 5,000 to 7,500 foot-candles. Plants were pinched two times and were eleven months old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Pink Punch Wind’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Cayman             Wind’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,760.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Luau Pink             Kai’, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About four to             five weeks.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and             winter.—About five to six weeks.         -   Root description.—Thick, fibrous; typically white to light             brown in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer, substrate             temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial, evergreen,             semi-upright and uniformly mounded plant habit; moderately             vigorous to vigorous growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with lateral             branches potentially develop at every node; pinching             enhances lateral branch development; dense and bushy             appearance.         -   Plant height.—About 30 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 52 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 23.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 8 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 2.4 cm.         -   Aspect.—Upright to outwardly spreading.         -   Texture and luster, immature.—Smooth; somewhat glossy.         -   Texture and luster, mature.—Woody and rough; matte.         -   Color, immature.—Close to 144A.         -   Color, mature.—Close to 199B, 199C and 199D. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, single; numerous; symmetrical.         -   Length.—About 8 cm.         -   Width.—About 5.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate or palmately tri-lobed; lobes medium in depth             and divergent.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Broadly obtuse.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; glossy.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Rough, glabrous; matte to             slightly glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146A. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker green than between             NN137A and 147A; midvein, close to 146A; lateral venation,             close to between NN137A and 147A. Fully expanded leaves,             lower surface: Close to 146A; midvein, close to 144A;             lateral venation, close to 146A.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 4 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture             and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             slightly glossy. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             144A and 146A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and flowering habit.—Rounded star-shaped             single flowers arranged at terminal leaf axils; uniform and             freely flowering habit with about three or four flowers per             terminal; flowers face mostly upright to outwardly.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Hibiscus flower             naturally during the spring and summer or during periods of             warm weather; plants flower year-round in the greenhouse.         -   Flower longevity.—Depending on temperature and water status,             flowers typically last about two to three days on the plant;             flowers persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 7.5 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 7 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Resistance to abscission during shipping:             Plants of the new Hibiscus have been observed to resist             flower bud drop during shipping. Length: About 2.4 cm.             Diameter: About 1.2 cm. Shape: Ovoid. Texture and luster:             Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Close to 146A.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Corolla consists of a single whorl of             five petals that are fused at base; petals imbricate.             Length: About 5.25 cm. Width: About 4.25 cm. Shape: Roughly             spatulate. Apex: Mostly rounded to occasionally praemorse;             moderately undulate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire;             moderately undulate. Texture and luster, upper surface:             Smooth, glabrous; velvety; slightly glossy. Texture and             luster, lower surface: Glabrous; veins prominent;             semi-glossy. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper             surface: Close to N66C to N66C; color does not change with             subsequent development; throat, close to 61A to 61B. When             opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to NN66C and             NN66D; color does not change with subsequent development.         -   Sepals.—Appearance: Five sepals in a single whorl fused into             a tubular star-shaped calyx. Length: About 2.7 cm. Width:             About 8 mm. Shape: Broadly lanceolate. Apex: Sharply acute.             Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous; waxy; semi-glossy. Texture and luster, lower             surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, upper surface:             Close to 146A to 146B. Color, lower surface: More green than             146A.         -   Epicalyx.—Quantity and arrangement: About seven to eight in             a single whorl fused at base. Length: About 1.5 cm. Width:             About 7 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Sharply acute. Margin:             Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;             glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous;             slightly glossy. Color, upper and lower surfaces: More green             than 146A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.75 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Aspect: Upright to slightly outwardly. Strength: Strong,             flexible. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy.             Color: Close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: Numerous,             about 40 to 45 per flower. Filament length: About 4 mm.             Filament color: Close to 46A. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther             length: About 1.5 mm. Anther color: Close to 14A. Amount of             pollen: Scarce to moderate. Pollen color: Close to 14A.             Gynoecium: Pistil number: One per flower. Pistil length:             About 5 cm. Style length: About 4.5 cm. Style texture and             luster: Smooth, glabrous; waxy; glossy. Style color: Close             to 46A. Stigma appearance: Five-parted, rounded. Stigma             color: Close to 53A. Ovary color: Close to 11C to 11D.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production has not             been observed on plants of the new Hibiscus. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have been observed to     have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about 40° C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have been     observed to be resistant to Bacterial Leaf Spot (Pseudomonas     cichorii). To date, plants of the new Hibiscus grown under Florida     production conditions have not been shown to be resistant to pests     and other pathogens common to Hibiscus plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hibiscus plant named ‘Pink Punch Wind’ as illustrated and described. 